Automatic lock slider for slide fasteners



March 24, 1942.

M. D. PICKENS AUTOMATIC LO'CK SLIDER FOR SLIDE FSTENERS fffffllllmw/fgmlm Filed May 15, 1940 'l al al mi INVENTOR. Maz'son B Pjche ns.

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will out in the appended Patented Mar. 24, 1942 IUNi'rELD STATES PATENT oFFicE av'rominc Loox snmsa Fon suns rss'rsms kunnen n. riexenedneesvme, re., mignotto Talomlnan corporationoflennsylvania v spoliation Miu is, me, serial No. :zijn:

kiz ciiiiiiis. icl; zi-*zossi e This invention relates to slidefasteners and.

in particular, to the provision of ew and improved automatic lock sliders there or.

\ -It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved lock slider construction which is thin and compact; wherein all projections such as pull tabs and supporting lugsl are obviated:

wherein the exterior slider surfaces are smooth, continuous, and uninterrupted; and wherein a substantially "streamline" appearance is achieved. -Y

It is a further object oi this in vention to pro-- vide such Ia slider construction embodying new and improved lock actuating means, recessed in the slider body and normallyilush therewith/and which may be readily and conveniently manipulated, in various im. for. bringing the slider parts to unlocked position from. their normal.,

locking position.

It is a further object of this 'invention to p vide such a slider construction embodying a slider body which is so shaped as to react with underlying objects and materials to guide itself in the plane of the fastener.

It is a further object of this invention to'provide such a slider body which is particularly adapted to facilitate manual ensalement and actuation of a plate-like lock actuating`member which is ush with the slider body. It is a further object of this invention to pro- 'vide such a new and improved automatic lock slider of simple, cheap and durable construction.

readily and conveniently manufactured by any of the known methods of manufacture, either from metal or from non-metallicplastlc materials. `he component parts of which may be assembled with .utmost facility.;

showing the slider parts in position, the lock actuating member being moved slidably in one direction longitudinallyof the slider, for

' unlocking the'slider;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section taken substantially on the line H ofllg. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a transversesection taken substantiallyonthelineO-Ioflllg.2.

In automatic loof: sliders or the prior the lock actuating means geuerally constituted manually engageable pull tabs`or other projections 'or protuberances connected to the slider 'body. Projecting substantially therefrom. and

generally requiring protruding supporting lugsv and requiring a substantial amount of relative movement between themselves and the slider all of the above disadvantages of prior art con structions are totally obviated. by elimination of pull tabs and pull tab supporting lugs'from the slider construction of this invention, by the pro- These and other objectsl and advantages of the y i invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompany? ing drawing which forms a part thereof, and

claims.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a perspective view showing a cslide fastener slider, according to this invention, ap-

plied to an illustrative-slide fastener, of which a fragmentary showing ismade;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section-ot the slider shown in Figi, 1l', with (the slider parts in f normal. locking position;

Fig. 3,is a view similar to Fig. 2,v but showing the slider'parts in unlocked position,the lcktfng member being tilted in one tiii-eotioii` actua for unlocking -the slider;A

Fig. 4 is a view similar to which is movable, either slidably, longitudinally tively and conveniently unlocking the slider by vision of a lock actuating member of plate-like form whichis supported in a recess inthe front wing of the slider in such manner that it is flush with the-exterior surface ofthe front wing" in the normal, flocking position of the slider parts and of theslider body, tiltable about either end, or movable bodily outwardlyl such movement efecwithdrawing the locking means thereof fro m\its noi-mal, locking position.

The slider in its preferred 'formol comprises but three parts, namely, the slider body, a resilient locking member in the slider'body. and

a lock actuating member operatively connected withthelockingmemberinimchmannerastobe secured to the slider body by reason of its conv nection with the locking member. All of these parts are so compactly arranged as to provide a thin automatic lock slider having substantially sm uninterrupted exterior surfaces and p'e- Fig. 3 andlikewise 5 a "streamline" appearance.

- terlocking fastener members I2. The reinforced l0 outwardly of the slider (away from the piane of 25 Referring' to the drawing in denn. me inustrative slide fastener shown in Fig. l comprises a pair of connected stringers and s slider slidable thereon for progressively engaging and ing the interlocking fastener members of the 5 stringers for opening and closing the fastener. Each stringer comprises a stringer tape Il having a reinforced edge II upon which reinforced edge I I lis secured a row of predeterminedly spaced inedgesII of the Stringer tapes I0 are secured together-adjacent the lower end of the rows of interlockingfastenermembers I 2- by a conventional bottom stop' Il.'

The slider is generally designated I5 and is"V i5.

- the 'slider I5 is locked, ush with the front sur- -2o face of the slider. as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The lock actuating member 32'is tiltable, as shown in Figs. v1 and 3: longitudinally slidable, as shown in Fig. 4; or bodily' movable the fastener) for unlocking the slider.

A'l'hesliderbodyntsshowninli'igs.3toincomand the stringers ofthe fastener. v

prises' a front wing member I6 and a rear wing member II provided with marginal side flanges I3, which wing members I3 and-'Il' are secured 30 bers in effect form a connecting loop for the lock together in predetermined spaced relationship, at their upper ends by a neck or wedge member I9. The vinclined side surfaces of the neck member or wedge member I3 between the frbnt and form between the front' and rear wing members I6 andfll, an 'upwardly diver-ging substantially i Y-shaped fastener member guide channel 2 lffor guiding the interlocking fastener members I2 ,4Q

into and out of meshing engagementrupon rela-` tive longitudinal movement between the slider I5 The front wing member I3 isprovided receiving openingor aperture 22 extended from y the lower end of the locking member receiving recess 2l 'into the fastener member guide channel 5) pressure upon the end projections 28 tobring the i 20'. `Extending rearwardly from the upperne'nd 20, as shown in Figs. g and 5. f

of the locking member receiving recess 2l is a deep, transverse recess which receives the' leg portion 29`Y of the locking member 25 which is anchored in the recess4 2l, as hereinafter vmost 55 ing its main portion 26 provided with an,inter f with` aA longitudinal locking member receiving recess 2I 45 shown in Fig. 6, rigidly to secure the leg portion 23iof the locking member 25 to the slider body II. Where the slider body is formed of metal, this is achieved by upsetting the metal of the slider bo'dy'adjacent the saw-tooth notches 3l. Where the slider body is formed of non-metallic plastic material, the material adjacent the saw-tooth notches is softened, pressed into the notches 3l. and then allowed to harden in order to secure the leg portion 23 of the lock member 25 rigidly to the slider body.

overlying the locking' member receiving recess 2| is a longitudinally open-ended channel 3| whichv provides a seatfor the plate-like lock ac tuating member 32. The outer surface of the lock actuating member-32 is preferably so formed that, in the normal position of the parts, as

shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 8, the outer surface thereof is-completely complementary with the flush surfaces of the front wing member I5 at each side thereof in order that a completely uninterrupted, or continuous front slider surface is formed.

Extendinginwardly from the inner surface of the lock actuating member 32, substantially midway of its length, is a pair of substantially L- shaped coupling members 33 having the end projections 3l thereof, which are substantially horizontal, facing one another and somewhat sharpened. as shown in Fig. 5. 'Ihese coupling memactuating member to the locking member 25.'.

The sharpened end projections 34 of the coupling members 33 extend under the intermediate outwardly bent or upstruck loop portion 21, the

undersurface of which forms a cam surface,v

'whereby longitudinal sliding. movement-of the lock-actuating member 32, as shown in Fig. 4, causes the lower or free end of the lockingmember 25 to move outwardly and thus causes withdrawal of the locking projections 23 outwardly from the fastener member' guide channel 2 0 through the'opening or aperture 22.

Because of the inherent resiliency ofthe coupling members 33, inirder to assemble the slider, it is merely necessary, after separate formation of the slider body I5, the lockingmember 25, and the lock actuating member 32, to secure the leg portion 29 of the locking member 25 in the recess 2l, vas described above, then to apply outward locking member 25 to theposition shown in Fig. 4, and while the locking member is held in this position, to force the lock actuating member 32 inwardly'of the slider body. The resilient coupling members 33 are thus spread apart sumciently to allow the end projections 34 thereof to snap 'over theupstrucl:v loop portion or 'cam portion 21 of thelocking member 25, thus semediate outwardlybent or 4upstruck loop portion 60' curely to assemble the slider body I 5, locking aperture 22 and which are4 projectible ythere- 6K5 through into the fastener member' guide channel ,The upper end of the locking "member 251s .bent inwardly to form the 'leg' portion 29' which 'is disposedfsubstantially perpendicular` tothe i0 main portion 26 of thelocking member' 25 and which is closely fitted linto the above-described recess.v The'sides o/f -the leg portion 29 are provided with saw-tooth notches 30, into which the'material of the slider body is projected, as 75 member 25 and lock actuating member 32 together.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, tilting movement of the lock actuating member 32, in either direction with respect to the slider body I5, -causes the outer or free end of the locking member 25 tomove outwardly of the slider and causes withdrawal of the locking proiectionsllfrom the fastener member guide channel 20.

Likewise, as will be clearly understood from Fig. 4, longitudinal sliding movement of the lock actuating member 32, in either direction with respect to the slider body I5, will likewise cause the outer end of the locking member 25 to be lifted to withdraw the locking projections 28 2,277,503 through the opening' or aperture-22 from the` fastener member guiding channel il.

In order to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of the plate-like lock actuating member 32. inv either direction, a pair of lands, ridges, or

- other projections Il may, optionally, be provided on the inner surfaces of the lock actuating member 32,-as shown in Fig. 4. These lands or ridges are preferably so spaced as predeterminedly to limit the longitudinal movement of the platelike lock actuating member I! in either direc-A tion, thus limiting the stress which may be applied to the locking member 25 due to this movement for preventing damage to the locking mem-v ber 2l.

order to facilitate manipulation of 'the plate-like lock actuating member '32, the slider the slider. may be operated conveniently inv various ways. effectively to unlock the slider, free access to the lock actuating means being provided by undercut recesses underlying the ends of the lock actuating member.`

It is, of course, tobe understood that the above description is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend with my invention such modincations as are ineluded within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus fully described my invention,

l-what I claim as new Iand desire to secure'by body Il is preferably provided, at each end of theabove-described channel Il, with a pair of undercut recesses I0, asshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. A fingertip. or finger nail may be readily inserted under either end of plate-like lock actuating member l2 inan undercutrecess i6 to Dry up that end of the lock actuatlng meml ber 32, as shown in Figs. l -and 8, or to move the lock actuating member 32 slidably longitudinally of the slider, as shown'in Fig. 4. Likewise, finger Letters Patentis:

4l. In a slider for slide lock tuating member operatively connected with d locking means'and secured to one side f of said yslider body, said lock actuating'member being movable with respect to said slider body, slidingly in opposite chrections and tiltingly about opposite end portions for operating said locking means. 1 v

2. In a slider for slide fasteners. a slider body having` normally operative locking means enclosed therein, said slider body having a channel extending inwardly 'from one side thereof and,

overlying said locking means, and a lock'actuating member in said 'channel normally flush with .Y

. the adjacent surfaces of said slider body and formingin effect a guiding shoe.4 which tends,

upon encountering an underlying object, to

"climb" upon the object and cause the upper end of the slider to move outwardly. 'This causes slidable and tiltable in opposite directions therein, said lock actuating member being operatively connected with said locking means and retained in said channel by said connection, and said lockv actuating member rendering said locking means inoperative upon movement ofsaid lock actuating member bodily outwardly, tiltingly or slid' ingly in either direction with respect to said channel.

3. In eender forslide fasteners, a slider ybody yhaving 'locking -means enclosed therein, and a fmanually engageable lock actuating member the slider to guide itself in the'plane of the fas- Y tener. lIli'esllectivve of tilting force exerted upon theslider'when the lower end of the lock actuating member. II it liftedto tilt the actuating member 32, as shown in Fig. 3. The component of the tilting force exerted upon the slider body by lifting of the lower end of the lock actuating member 3! is thus oilset, or cancelled, by thev re#- verse component exerted by the upwardly-and outwardly inclined portion or guiding shoe 31 of the rear wing of the slider whereby the slider willrun free. in the piane of the fastener. when the lower end of' the lock actuating member 32 islifted to vcause upward sliding movement of the slider for closing the fastener.

From the above description, it will clearly appear that I have providedv a new and improved slider constructionwhich may be readily and conveniently produced by any of the known methods of manufacture from any suitable materials and whereinthe component parts-may be assembled with utmost ease and facility.

It will further appear that this slider construction is completely "streamlined," being provided l with smooth, uninterrupted exterior surfaces highly resistant to catching or fouling of the slider in clothingior other, objects. and partie-- ularly adapted to guide. the slider in the plane ofthe fastener. f

It will further appear that the component parta of the slider have nv reduced to a minimum and that the lock actuating means, which is normally'ilush with the exterior surfaces of having undercut movably supported at one side of said slider with its outer surface normally flush with the adja centsurfaces of sai lider body, said slider body said lock` actuating member for facilitating manual access' thereto.

g4. In a slider for slide fasteners, a sliderl body having a fastener member guide channel therein and means associated therewith and operable manually from the front of the slider for moving said slider, the rear surface ofsaid slider body having an upwardly and outwardly inclined surfface at--its upper end forming 'a' guiding .shoe

resisting tilting `of the upper end of said slider inwardly upon upward movement of'said slider for guiding said slider substantially in the plane of fastener members in said4 fastener member guide, channel.

5. In a slider for slide fasteners. a slider body, vnormally operative locking meansA enclosed in said slider body, said slider body having a chanr nel extending inwardly from the outer side thereof,L anda manually engageablelock actuating member in said channel having its outer surface normally flush with the outer surface ofsaid slider body. said lockv actuating member being bodily movable outwardly of said channel, slidingly in said channel in either direction orv tiltingly in opposite directions therein. said lock actuating member being operatively connected with said locking means and rendering said locking means inoperative upon such movement of said lock actuating member in said channel. said slider body havingundercutrecesses communia slider body -having locking means enclosed therein, anda underlying the ends of eating with the ends of said channel and under' lying the ends of said lock actuating member for facilitating manual access thereto, and the inner side of said slider body having an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface at its upper end forming a guiding shoe resisting inward tilting of the upper end of said slider upon upward movementthereof for closing a slide fastener.

6. In an automatic lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider body having therein a fastener member guiding channel, a locking member recessed in said slider body and having thereon a locking projection normally projected in said guide channel for locking engagement with fastener members therein, one side of saidfslider body having an elongated recessed channel coextensive therewith and a manually engageablev lock actuating member operatively connected with said locking member and having its outer surface substantially flush with surfaces of said slider -body adjacent said elongated recessed channel,

said lock actuating member being movable bodily outwardly of said channel, slidable in either direction in said channel and curable in said einnnel in either direction for withdrawing said locking projection from said guide channel to unlock said slider.

7. In an automatic lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider body having therein a fastener member guide channel, a locking member receiving recess'extending inwardly from one side of said slider body| a locking member in said locking member receiving recess comprising a yieldable member ilxed at one end to said slider body and having an inwardly directed locking projection Y at its free end normally projecting into said guide channel. said locking member having an upstruck loop portion between its ends. and a manually engageablek lock actuating member member was :ossia slider body.

` 8. In an automatic lock slider for slide fastenl ers, a slider body having therein c fastener member guide channel. s. locking member receiving recess extending inwardly from one side of said sliderhbody. and an elongated lock actuating member supporting channel overlying locking member receiving'recess, a locking member in said locking member receiving recess comprising under the upstruck loop portion of said locking member, said coupling means cooperating with said upstruck loop portion to cause withdrawal of said projection from said fastener member guide channel by lifting said locking member outwardly of said slider bodyy upon manual movement of said lock .actuating member with respect to said lock actuating member supporting channel.

9. In 'an automatic lock slider for slide iasteners, a slider body having therein a fastener member guide channel, an elongated locking member receiving vrecess extending inwardly from one side of said slider body and spaced from said guide channel', and a locking member leg receiving recess extending inwardly from one end of said locking member receiving recess, a locking member in said loching member receiving recess comprising an elongated yieldable member having an inwardly directed locking projection at one end normally projecting into said guide channel,

ing an elongated resilient member nxed at one f end to said slider body and having an inwardly directed locking projection at its free end normally projecting into said guide channel, said locking member having an upstruck loop portion intermediate its ends, s manuallyv changeable plate-like lock actuating member in said lock actuating member supporting channel overlying said locking member receivingrecess and having its outer surfaces normally substantially ush with adjacentsurfacesofsaidsliderbodmand coupling means operatively connecting said lock actuating member with said locking member while retaining said lock actuating member in said lock actuating member supporting channel comprising a connectorloopsecuredtotheinner an inwardly extending leg at its other end fixed in said leg receiving recess, and having an upstruck loop portion between said locking projection and said leg, and a manually engageable plate-like lock actuating member overlying said locking member receiving recess and having its outer surfaces normally substantially nush with adjacent surfaces of said slider body. andE connecting means operatively connecting said lock actuating member with said locking member while retaining said lock actuating member and said slider body together, said connecting means including a loop extending inwardly in said lockingmemberrecelvingrecessfromtheinnerside of said lock actuating 'member and extending under the upstruck loop portion ofrsaid locking member, said coupling means cooperating with said loop portion to cause withdrawal of said locking projection from said fastener member guidecliannelbyliftingsaidlockingmemberout-` `wardiyof saidslider body upon manual moveber guidechannel, aflongitudinallocklng lnexnberV receiving recess extending inwardly from one side of said slideebody-and spaced from said guide channel, a lockingprojection receiving aperture extending between one end ofsaid locking memberreceiving recess and said guide channel, a locking member leg Areceiving recess extending inwardly from the other end of said locking member receiving recess, and an elongated lock actuating member supporting channel overlying said locking member receiving recess, an elongated yieldable locking member in said locking member receiving recess having an inwardly directed locking projection at one end disposed in said locking projection receiving aperture and normally projecting into said guide channel, an inwardly extending leg atitsotherendilxed in said leg receiving recess, and having an upstruck loop portion between' said locking projection and said leg, a manually enga'geablev plate-like lock actuating member in said lock actuating member supchannel overlying said locking member Wlting side of saidlock actuating member and exteud-` 75 receiving recess and having its outer surfaces 277,503 w u l normally substantially ush with adjacent surfaces of said slider body, and connecting means operatively connecting said lock actuating member with said locking member while retaining said lock actuating member in said lock actuating member .supporting channel, said connecting means comprising a pair of complementary coupling members secured to the inner side of said lock actuating member and extending under the upstruck loop portion of said locking member, said coupling members cooperating with said loop portion to cause withdrawal of said locking pro-i jection from said fastener member guide channel by lifting said locking member outwardly of said slider body upon manual movement oi' vsaid lock actuating member either bodily outwardly, tiltably, or slidably in Heither direction with respect to said lock actuating member supporting cham.

l lcl2. A slider for slide fasteners including a slider body having therein a fastener member guide' enamel, said slider body being provided, at one en d at least, with an undercut nger tip accommodating recess facilitating manual engagej ment of said slider body.

MADISON D. PICKEN'S. 

